London Stansted urges Network Rail to show more ambition to unlock growth at the airport

London Stansted is urging Network Rail to show more ambition and greater vision to deliver faster rail services to unlock the airport’s potential and improve services for commuters.

Responding to the publication today of Network Rail’s Anglia Route Study proposals, Andrew Harrison, Stansted’s Managing Director, said:

“Network Rail clearly recognises the need to improve services to Stansted but its proposals published today lack the ambition and vision needed to deliver significantly faster services for airport users and commuters.

“We are already working with Network Rail, the DfT and others to develop better solutions that will result in greater savings in journey times for all users.

“This is important because unlike Heathrow and Gatwick, Stansted has spare runway capacity today and significant room to grow in the future. Making best use of Stansted is critical given the arrival of a new runway in the South East is at least 10-15 years away.

“It is almost a year since the Chancellor and Sir Howard Davies asked Network Rail to look at how to improve rail services between London and Stansted, as part of the Airports Commission’s recommendations to Government.

“As Sir Howard Davies recognised, the best way to unlock Stansted’s potential, improve passenger experience and foster further economic growth in the region is by investing in the infrastructure to provide faster journey times, additional capacity and greater resilience.

“Faster journey times to and from London will enable Stansted to continue supporting the capital’s growth, particularly as it expands further east. Improved rail services would also be great for the wider region, delivering huge benefits for commuters and supporting economic regeneration and thriving industries up and down the London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor.

“We will be working with Network Rail to look again at what needs to be done to reduce journey times, and seeking a firm commitment from Government that the necessary investment on the rail line between London and Stansted Airport will be taken forward urgently as a central part of its aviation policy.”